VETERANS REPORT -- 11/26/12 Newsletter

Veterans Report is the most comprehensive newsletter available to help Veterans stay current on benefits changes, learn about important legislation, get great discounts, and use the benefits earned in service. Make sure that you and your colleagues subscribe for this free update publication.

-------------------------------- 26 NOVEMBER 2012-------------------------------------------
 

TRICARE Rx Fee Hike Decision Looming

VA Loan Limits for High-Cost Counties

Deal of the Week: Veterans Save Up to 50%

Most Veterans Still Unaware of Benefits

$500k Coverage Starting at $1.50 a Day

Marijuana Use Still Illegal

GM Wall of Service Sweeps: Win a Chevy Camaro

Applying for VA Benefits

Tinnitus Affecting Veterans

Featured Job: Parker Hannifin Is Hiring

New Navy Lodge Breaks Ground

Grants to End Veteran Homelessness

Get a List of Your Military Benefits

Toys for Tots Kicks Off Season

Pitney Bowes Vet Jobs Website

Army Docs Reevaluate More PTSD Cases

Fed Warns Mortgage Lenders

New Vet Jobs Website in Georgia

Navy Moves Forward with Transition GPS

House Holds Vet Jobs Hearing

Texas Study Seeks Returning Veterans

VA Celebrates Rural Health Day

Print and Post This Week's Veterans Report

Headline Military News

   
TRICARE Rx Fee Hike Decision Looming
Congress is set to decide how much military pharmacy fees will be raised in 2013 in the next few weeks. More

   
VA Loan Limits for High-Cost Counties
The VA loan guaranty program limits the maximum guaranty amount to $417,000 for 2012. However, if you live in a high-cost county the maximum changes. More

Deal of the Week: Veterans Save Up to 50%
All Vets get up to 50% off on Gifts, Outdoor, Lifestyle, Golf, Watches, Knives, Sunglasses, Hunting and Apparel on GovX.com! More

   
Most Veterans Still Unaware of Benefits
More than half of America's veterans say they have little or no understanding of the benefits due them. More

   
$500k Coverage Starting at $1.50 a Day
Is VGLI too much? Need more coverage? ASMBA offers military service members and their family quality coverage for less. More

Marijuana Use Still Illegal
Colorado voted to legalize marijuana, but its use is still against federal law and the Uniform Code of Military Justice, even for servicemembers stationed in or visiting the state. More

GM Wall of Service Sweeps: Win a Chevy Camaro
General Motors is the largest commercial provider of military vehicles in history and we remain dedicated to supporting America's heroes. More

Applying for VA Benefits
You may be eligible for VA benefits if you are a veteran; surviving spouse, child or parent of a deceased Veteran; servicemember; or reservist or National Guard member. More

Tinnitus Affecting Veterans
A recent report from the VA revealed more than 10 percent of all veteran disability claims in fiscal year of 2011 were due to tinnitus, an early sign of hearing loss. More

Featured Job: Parker Hannifin Is Hiring
Explore working for a company who is the leader in motion and control technologies. More

New Navy Lodge Breaks Ground
Navy Lodge Little Creek - Fort Story, Va., recently held a ground-breaking ceremony Nov. 19 for its 11,000 square foot, 26-room expansion. More

Grants to End Veteran Homelessness
The Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA's) Supportive Services for Veteran Families Program helps to end homelessness. More

Get a List of Your Military Benefits
The Military.com Benefit Calculator is designed to connect you with your benefit information based on your military service and status. More

Toys for Tots Kicks Off Season
Toys for Tots is kicking off its Christmas season at in cities around the country. More

Pitney Bowes Vet Jobs Website
Pitney Bowes Inc. announced today that it has set up a special website targeted at military veterans so that they can more easily find work at the company. More

Army Docs Reevaluate More PTSD Cases
A review of behavioral health diagnoses at Madigan Army Medical Center ended with Army doctors changing more than half of the cases they evaluated. More

Fed Warns Mortgage Lenders
The Consumer Finance Protection Bureau recently put mortgage lenders on watch for potentially misleading advertising directed toward veterans. More

New Vet Jobs Website in Georgia
Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal and the Governor's Office of Workforce Development recently launched a website to help returning veterans find jobs. More

Navy Moves Forward with Transition GPS
Stars and Stripes reports that the U.S. Navy has unveiled a program for sailors transitioning from active-duty. More

House Holds Vet Jobs Hearing
The Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity of U.S. House Committee on Veterans' Affairs recently held a hearing on helping unemployed veterans find employment. More

Texas Study Seeks Returning Veterans
Researchers are currently looking for returning combat Veterans with PTSD to participate in a study testing a new medication in conjunction with exposure therapy. More

VA Celebrates Rural Health Day
The VA Office of Rural Health celebrated the second annual National Rural Health Day, which spotlights the health care needs of those living in rural communities More

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Veterans Report Published by Military.com Editors: Terry Howell
Editorial Questions: http://www.military.com/Content/MoreContent1?file=FAQ
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From: PITTSBURG CHAMBER OF COMMERCE -- 11/26/12

Posted: 26 Nov 12

From:  Chamber of Commerce post on their Facebook Page (click here)

Small businesses contribute so much to their local communities. 

Let’s keep the spirit of "Small Business Saturday"
alive, well into the New Year! 

LIKE this post (on PCC FB site) 

• if you plan to have dinner at a local Pittsburg restaurant this evening! 
• (And share a picture of your meal on Instagram using #PittsburgChamber!)

La Veranda Ristorante Italiano

Located in the heart of newly renovated Old Town Pittsburg 

Please View our Photos for Lunch and Dinner.

Page: 453 like this


Editor's Note

Great Idea! 

And, buying in Pittsburg will help fill the City coffers (per our recent approval of the sales tax increase), which the local government needs us to help do. 

This is not to detract from the fine businesses outside the City 

• -- but we have to attend to our local economy, first 
• -- in order to be strong enough to better support outlying businesses 
• -- and do other good neighborly things with and for them 
• -- (and the area and nation, in general) 
• -- over the long run.

PRACTICAL TIPS for 11/26/12 -- From USA.gov

Posted: 26 Nov 12

Image description: This round, gold coated secondary mirror that...

11/26/2012 03:00 PM EST

Image description: This round, gold coated secondary mirror that looks like a sun will fly aboard NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope. The thickness of the gold coating on the mirrors is only 100 nanometers thick. A human hair is roughly 1,000 times thicker.
Photo by Chris Gunn, NASA.

Recognizing Military Families and the Sacrifices They Make

11/26/2012 01:00 PM EST

November is recognized as Military Family Month. It is a time to celebrate and honor service members and their families and thank them for their sacrifice to our country. These are just a few of the many resources available to help military service members and their families:

• Deployment Guide: This interactive resource is a free tool for service members of all branches and their families to use while preparing for deployment, during deployment, and when returning home from deployment.
• Combat Stress: Operation Enduring Families provides a five-step educational and support program for veterans and their families after they return from combat. The program includes sessions on family relationships, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, communication and intimacy and anger. The sessions strive to address challenges, offer resource and garner hope.
• Child Care: While a family member is deployed, the spouse at home can feel an extra burden of child care. The Department of Defense (DoD) offers child care services for family members to help them get affordable and quality child care. The DoD currently has over 800 child care centers and oversees family programs across the country.

Find more resources for military families.

Do Your Loved Ones Know Your Wishes for End-of-Life Care and Beyond?

11/26/2012 10:00 AM EST

Do Your Loved Ones Know Your Wishes for End-of-Life Care and Beyond?:Learn about advance directives and make a plan.

SECURITY: PAPERWORK: DISPOSAL TIP

Posted: 26 Nov 12

Consider that documents containing your name, address, other personal data may make it safely into your garbage/recycler. But what happens after it leaves your control? Can it blow away at the garbage dump or otherwise fall into the wrong hands, to your great disadvantage?

TIPS: 

1. Make good friends with your paper shredder or 
2. If the item is unsuitable for shredding, cut out the I.D. info and destroy it (cut to bits, burn it, etc.) 
3. IF YOU HAVE OTHER SECURITY TIPS, PLEASE ADD TO THIS LIST, in the comment section, below. 

(Those tips will go into my notebooks -- with other accumulated research -- and you and many others will eventually see them all again) -- THERE IS MUCH TO BE SAID FOR COMBINED COMMON WISDOM, APPLIED.


All Original Content © 2012 , The MENTOR Enterprises / ELMS, All Rights Reserved -- BUT, I hereby suspend those rights, to this extent: You may freely copy and pass this along, if you think it will do some good -- as long as it's free of charge, unchanged, and you include this statement.

PRACTICAL TIPS for 11/23/12 -- From USA.gov

On Fri, Nov 23, 2012 at 1:18 PM, USA.gov Blog Team <subscriptions@subscriptions.usa.gov> wrote:

You are subscribed to USA.gov Blog.

Image description: As a part of an exercise, firefighters from...

11/23/2012 03:00 PM EST

Image description: As a part of an exercise, firefighters from the 51st Civil Engineer Squadron extinguish a fire started from a simulated C-130 Hercules cargo plane crash at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea.
Photo by Staff Sgt. Craig Cisek, U.S. Air Force.

Get Help Paying Your Home Heating Bills this Winter

11/23/2012 01:00 PM EST

If you can’t afford to pay your winter heating bill, the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) may be able to help with:

• Home energy bills
• Energy crisis
• Weatherization and energy-related home repairs

Assistance is available to low-income families who spend a large portion of income on home heating and cooling.
Contact your state or Indian tribe or tribal organization agency for eligibility requirements and to apply. For help applying, you can also call 1.866.NRG.NEAR (674.6327)

Be a Smart Shopper

11/23/2012 10:00 AM EST

Be a Smart Shopper:

Find tips to help you research a purchase, shop safely, and understand contracts and warranties.

Nutcracker -- Black Diamond Ballet Theatre -12/7,8,9/12

Nutcracker presented by Black Diamond Ballet Theatre

December 7, 8 and 9

Posted Date: 11/21/2012

Black Diamond Ballet Theatre presents:

"NUTCRACKER"
Friday, December 7 @ 7:30 pm
Saturday, December 8 @ 7:30 pm
Sunday, December 9 @ 7:30 pm
Creative Arts Building, 250 School Street, Pittsburg CA 94565
Ticket Locations
Railroad Book Depot, 650 Railroad Ave, Pittsburg, (925)427-2334
Delta Ballet Academy, 300 G Street, Antioch, (925) 754-9833
For more information go to www.blackdiamondballet.org

Nutcracker Poster click link for poster

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BLACK FRIDAY -- Smart Shopping Tips from USA.gov

Posted: 21 Nov 12

Seven Smart Shopping Tips for Black Friday

11/21/2012 01:00 PM EST

Black Friday is one of the most popular shopping days of the year. If you plan to hunt for great holiday deals this year, use these tips from the Massachusetts Department of Consumer Affairs newsletter (PDF) to make sure you’re getting the best price:

1. Comparison shop: What does getting the best deal mean? When you’re looking at sales, do not focus solely on price. Decide which deal will give you the best value, including shipping costs, layaway plans, and free gifts.
2. Bring ads with you: Once you know what you want and where to get it, print or cut out any ads you’ve seen for the products. Before purchasing, make sure that the prices on the shelf and at the register match the advertised price. Many retailers will be price-matching their competitors, so you may be able to get an item at a different retailer for the same price.
3. Know store policies: Refunds, cancellations, returns, layaways – be sure to check the retailer’s website for these policies before heading to the store. These also need to be clearly displayed in the store before checkout. Ask for a copy of the policies so you have them on file in case anything goes wrong.
4. Shop smart with a Smartphone: Apps such as Consumer Reports Mobile Shopper give consumers more on-the-fly shopping information then ever. These apps can scan an item’s barcode, show reviews, keep track of deals, navigate between stores, and provide instant comparison shopping.
5. Know the deal: Retailers typically advertise Black Friday prices as the lowest of the year, but this is not always true. Some items may be offered at lower prices other times during the year. Be aware of this when looking at sale prices and check around to compare one retailer’s deals with another.
6. Watch for inflated prices and exaggerated markdowns: Some sellers will inflate the “regular” price of an item in order to increase the markdown and give the appearance of a deal when no money is actually saved. Watch out for overlapping price tags and know what the real normal cost is before making a purchase.
7. Use Layaway: For an item that may sell out, putting it on layaway is a great way to pay at your convenience while not missing the deal because of limited supply.

Get Help Managing Diabetes

11/21/2012 10:00 AM EST

Get Help Managing Diabetes:Millions of people in the U.S. have diabetes. These free publications can help manage the disease.